Friday August 14th 2026
The 2026 class of newly-qualified teachers with Councillor Jim Clocherty, PRT manager Emma Picken, and interim education director Michael Roach
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Liam Eunson
Two former Inverclyde pupils are among 26 newly-qualified educators who are heading back to school as teachers.
Shannon Feeney and Luke Devenney are among the class of 2026 who are starting out on their education careers with Inverclyde Council following their graduation from university.
Of the 26, 15 will be heading into secondary schools and 11 into primaries.
For newly-qualified teacher (NQT) Shannon, it is a special moment to be reunited with her former depute head teacher at Ardgowan Primary, Emma Picken, who is now the council’s probationary teacher (PRT) manager and training up the next generation of educators.
Shannon, who is 21 and from Greenock, will be embarking on her teaching career at Aileymill Primary when the new term starts next week and is delighted to have the support of a familiar face.
The Strathclyde University graduate said: “It feels special to be starting with Inverclyde Council and it’s a full circle moment to be back as a teacher working alongside people who have played a massive part in my own school experience.
“I never imagined years later I would be starting my own teaching career alongside Emma.
“It’s so nice to have someone who supported and inspired me when I was in school helping me take my first steps into teaching.
“It is also a reminder that, as a teacher, we have the opportunity to have that same positive impact on the children we will be teaching and be able to inspire them in the same way.”
Emma, who was latterly head teacher of Ardgowan Primary before moving into her current role, is bursting with pride to see one of her former pupils heading back to the classroom to teach.
She said: “Shannon was in P6 when I first went to Ardgowan as a depute head teacher.
“This is my first year officially as the PRT manager and she is in my first co-hort.
“It is lovely and a privilege to be leading and teaching her again as a newly-qualified teacher all these years later.
“I’m so proud of her.
“Her little sister is still in Ardgowan and was upset when I officially left my position as head teacher at the end of the year but she was so happy that I was ‘teaching’ her big sister to be a real teacher.”
It is also a surreal moment for 21- year-old Luke who is returning to his former high school, Notre Dame, this time as a religious education (RE) teacher.
He graduated from the University of the Highlands and Islands and will also follow in the footsteps of his mum, Gillian, who teaches at All Saints Primary.
Luke said: “My mum is a primary school teacher so teaching runs in the family.
“She is buzzing, the whole family is because we’re a close-knit family.
“It will be nice to return to Notre Dame as a teacher to give back to the school that gave a lot to me and to see some familiar faces.
“With RE, it’s about bringing faith into the community and inspiring pupils.
“It’s actually religious, moral and philosophical studies so it’s interesting because it’s not just about religion.
“I want to try to help build up knowledge and confidence of pupils and help them become confident young adults.”
The newly-qualified teachers took part in an induction event at Inverclyde Academy on Thursday 13 August 2026 to prepare for starting work proper when pupils head back to class on Tuesday, 18 August 2026.
Councillor Jim Clocherty, Inverclyde Council’s education convener, was on hand to welcome the class of 2026, and said: “You can feel the excitement from our newly-qualified teachers who have worked so hard during their own school days and at university to get to this stage and they are now eager to get started when the new term begins next week.
“It’s particularly special to see former pupils like Shannon and Luke, products of our very own education system, heading back to familiar surroundings as teachers themselves.
“I’d like to extend a very warm welcome to all our new teachers as they embark on their teaching careers here in Inverclyde and wish them continued success.”
At the induction event, the focus was on emphasising the importance of team work and for NQTs to work with each other, for them to work as a team with colleagues in schools, and to develop the skills of working as a team with their children and young people.
There were presentations by senior council figures, including interim education director, Michael Roach, and input from services including active schools, which is joint funded by sportscotland.
Staff will head to the classroom on Friday 14 August 2026 and again on Monday 17 August 2026 for two in-service days before pupils start the new term on Tuesday.
To see what jobs are available within the council, including in education, and the health and social care partnership (HSCP), visit www.myjobscotland.gov.uk/councils/inverclyde-council/jobs and look out for #InverclydeWorks on social media.
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